NRF2, cancer and calorie restriction

16 páginas, 1 figura, 3 tablas.-- PMCID: PMC4684645The transcription factor NF-E2-related factor (NRF2) is a key regulator of several enzymatic pathways, including cytoprotective enzymes in highly metabolic organs. In this review, we summarize the ongoing research related to NRF2 activity in cancer development, focusing on in vivo studies using NRF2 knockout (KO) mice, which have helped in defining the crucial role of NRF2 in chemoprevention. The lower cancer protection observed in NRF2 KO mice under calorie restriction (CR) suggests that most of the beneficial effects of CR on the carcinogenesis process are likely mediated by NRF2. We propose that future interventions in cancer treatment would be carried out through the activation of NRF2 in somatic cells, which will lead to a delay or prevention of the onset of some forms of human cancers, and subsequently an extension of health- and lifespan.AM-M and RdC are supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. The work was partially supported by Junta de Andalucía International Projects, CVI 4887 and CVI-276, NIH Grant 1R01AG028125-01A1 and FIS Grant PI080500 of the Ministry of Health, Spain.Peer reviewe